Dugout Discussion

3pm team news: Nketiah benched, Martinelli starts

Four Premier League matches get underway at 3pm GMT this afternoon.

Two of the sides ‘doubling’ in Gameweek 25, Arsenal and Everton, feature, while seven of the eight teams in action are currently languishing in the bottom half of the table.

Much of the Fantasy interest centres around Arsenal and there is mixed news on the line-up front, depending on who you own.

Gabriel Martinelli does return to the Gunners’ starting XI after his goalscoring cameo at Villa Park last weekend but it’s Eddie Nketiah, not Leandro Trossard, who makes way to accommodate him.

That’ll mean either Martinelli or Trossard will be leading the line for the visitors at the King Power Stadium today.

The league leaders are otherwise unchanged, with Thomas Partey back in the squad after injury but only among the substitutes.

As for Leicester City, James Maddison isn’t fit enough to feature because of a niggly, ongoing knee injury.

Maddison, who isn’t even in the squad, is among two players to make way from Brendan Rodgers’ last starting XI.

Nampalys Mendy also drops out as Wilfred Ndidi and Dennis Praet are recalled.

Everton are unsurprisingly unchanged for the visit of Aston Villa, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin and budget FPL defender Nathan Patterson not even among the substitutes.

Unai Emery, however, has made three changes to the side beaten by Arsenal last Saturday, with Lucas Digne, Jacob Ramsey and Leon Bailey coming into the side in place of Alex Moreno, Philippe Coutinho and Emiliano Buendia.

Coutinho misses out entirely.

There’s only one alteration across the two teams at Elland Road, where Leeds United take on unchanged Southampton.

Javi Gracia brings Brenden Aaronson into his side at the expense of the benched Crysencio Summerville for his first match in the Leeds hotseat.

There’s a lot more rotation to report at the London Stadium, where David Moyes has seemingly ditched the wing-back system and reverted to a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1.

That spells bad news for Emerson Palmieri, who is benched along with Thilo Kehrer, Flynn Downes and Michail Antonio.

Ben Johnson, Lucas Paqueta, Said Benrahma and Danny Ings all come into the side, with Ings making his first West Ham start,

As for Forest, Neco Williams and Chris Wood return at the expense of the injured Serge Aurier and the benched Danilo.

GAMEWEEK 25 LINE-UPS

Everton XI: Pickford, Coleman, Coady, Tarkowski, Mykolenko, Iwobi, Gueye, Doucoure, Onana, McNeil, Maupay

Subs: Mina, Begovic, Godfrey, Keane, Davies, Vinagre, Gray, Holgate, Simms

Aston Villa XI: Martinez, Cash, Konsa, Mings, Digne, McGinn, Luiz, Kamara, Ramsey, Bailey, Watkins

Subs: Dendoncker, Moreno, Durán, Sinisalo, Chambers, Young, Traoré, Zych, Buendía


Leeds United XI: Meslier, Ayling, Firpo, Koch, Wober, Adams, McKennie, Harrison, Aaronson, Gnonto, Bamford

Subs: Monteiro, Joseph, Gyabi, Robles, Summerville, Rutter, Roca, Kristensen, Greenwood

Southampton XI: Bazunu, Maitland-Niles, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Perraud, Lavia, Ward-Prowse, S Armstrong, Elyounoussi, Sulemana, Onuachu

Subs: Walker-Peters, Caleta-Car, Alcaraz, Caballero, Mara, Djenepo, Walcott, Armstrong, Diallo


Leicester City XI: Ward, Castagne, Souttar, Faes, Kristiansen, Dewsbury-Hall, Ndidi, Tete, Praet, Barnes, Iheanacho.

Subs: Iversen, Tielemens, Vardy, Amartey, Daka, Pereira, Mendy, Thomas, Soumare.

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale, Whitee, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Odegaard, Jorginho, Xhaka, Saka, Martinelli, Trossard.

Subs: Turner, Tierney, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Holding, Tomiyasu, Vieira.


West Ham United XI: Fabianski, Johnson, Ogbonna, Aguerd, Coufal, Soucek, Rice, Paqueta, Benrahma, Bowen, Ings

Subs: Areola, Cresswell, Scammaca, Fornals, Antonio, Lanzini, Downes, Kehrer, Emerson

Nottingham Forest XI: Navas, Williams, Worrall, Felipe, Lodi, Freuler, Shelvey, Colback, Gibbs-White; Wood, Johnson

Subs: Gustavo Scarpa, Surridge, Toffolo, Dennis, Lingard, Ayew, Hennessey, Danilo, Mangala


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You can find it via this link and you only have to type in your FPL ID number (so no password/email) to see the visuals.


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Haaland Foden


893 Comments Post a Comment
  1. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Haha of course this week Walker and Mahrez benched.

  2. djman102
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Predicted Mahrez benching with CL back. Now just need Gakpo to start.

  3. Free Hat
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    At least kdb is benched so thats a start

  4. Botman and Robben
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Mahrez pulling a Cancelo like ghosting...

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      He is being prioritised for CL

      1. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Next CL match is 3 weeks away

    2. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Pep really does his best to do bad

    3. Biggsy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Obviously being rested for the big cup game. Bristol City got Pep worried

  5. RamaJama
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    White assist to Nketiah too much to Ask?

  6. Nightcrawler
    • 4 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Arsenal playing silly one touch passes in their own half

    Will only have themselves to blame if they mess this up. Leicester really poor

  7. FPL Emu
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    https://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/comment/25676983

    Some posters' certainty seems to always turn out the complete opposite

    1. Camzy
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      I didn't say he would start 😛

      1. FPL Emu
        • 13 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        I think we can say it was implied, haha

      2. Baps hunter
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Well, my bet is that he won't play either 😉

  8. AC/DC AFC
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Leeds United with a vital goal

    West Ham 3 nil up

  9. Patio Kev
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Yes Leeds - love it !!!!

    Bazunu is absolutely rubbish.

  10. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
    • 13 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    OMG Rice

    1. JBG
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Uncle Ben?

  11. SEXY SON
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Forgetting deadline and leaving Ings by mistake - this game!

  12. Mr. O'Connell
    • 11 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Ffs Benrahma. Owned him in GW3 last season.

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      sellers punished yet again

      1. Mr. O'Connell
        • 11 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Got to play the long game sometimes.

  13. Zimo
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    I don't get why Rodgers substitutes his best striker just to get on another striker later. Does he not like Nacho?

    1. Scots Gooner
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 7 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      He’s an idiot?

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Makes sense

    2. Nate(U)dog(ie)
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      He never likes playing Iheanacho, always feels like he waits for a game like this to drop him

  14. Drumandbaines123
    • 3 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Firpo essential

  15. Sun Jihai
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    White on 3 bonus? Owners finally rewarded!

    1. RICICLE
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Was just gonna say this, thrilled!

    2. Red Star Toro
      • 9 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      He’ll not hold it unfortunately

      1. RICICLE
        • 1 Year
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Even two I’m happy

      2. Biggsy
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Probably will. Expect Gabriel to drop out (as an owner)

  16. fusen
    • 12 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    The Athletic covered Pep's recent comments after the Champions League game where he made no subs and it was summed up as -

    "I have fast direct players (Foden, Alveres), and players who can slow it down with measured passes (Mahrez, Grealish). I use the appropriate players depending on who we play".

    Obviously this doesn't always mean you can predict the formation for City as there is still Pep roulette, but it does sort of explain why Mahrez often will miss out on these easier games where Pep is just going to try and bully the opposition.

    1. BobbyDoesNotLook
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Since gw17 he has played Leeds, Everton, Villa and Wolves. Came from bench against Chelsea and otherwise started.

      1. BobbyDoesNotLook
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 6 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        They have cup game upcoming which he could have rested.

      2. fusen
        • 12 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        roughly same time Foden has been injured

  17. BECKS TO THE FUTURE
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 2 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Just need a Nacho goal to spectacularly miss every point on offer today

  18. HD7
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Mates, is there any strategy about using the chips

    WC before which Big DGW to use for BB etc.
    I didnt need the FH this GW so when is there a big blank where we will use it?

    1. Paqueta Rice
      • 3 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      There are quite a few articles on it with many different strategies, mostly team dependant. Have a scroll through the old articles

    2. RICICLE
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 2 months ago

      GW 29

  19. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Mahrez to anyone?

    1. RICICLE
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Thinking back to March or Mitoma

    2. Shultan
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Thinking a Brighton defender

      1. Shultan
        • 8 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        *midfielder

    3. fusen
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      There is a good chance Mahrez plays against Newcastle due to the way Newcastle play and it being a game that can decide a top 4 place.

    4. dunas_dog
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Mahrez to Brighton mid

  20. BobbyDoesNotLook
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    If I still had Martinelli I would have had money to do Fernandes to Salah without taking a -4 from funding move of Kane to Darwin. 😀

    1. Baps hunter
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Cows do actually fly these days.

  21. Baps hunter
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Another day and Saka would have scored from pen and Martinelli hadn't been offside. Time to bet a fiver for Salah to brace. At least I can buy something to drink to cure C Saka hangover.

    1. Sun Jihai
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Ouch, you really capped Saka over Salah?

  22. wulfrunian
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    F**k off Pep.

  23. Chris_H
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Perraud finally coming good after all these weeks…

    1. Bobby Digital
      • 6 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Haha... Finally some jam!

  24. SEXY SON
    • 7 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    De Bruyne on the bench is a nice surprise, thought he was out completely!

  25. Bobby Digital
    • 6 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Did they take Perraud off before the goal?

  26. RICICLE
    • 1 Year
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Thanks for the YC Gnonto, useless

    1. Free Hat
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      Off the bench?thats impressive

      1. Zimo
        • 5 Years
        1 year, 2 months ago

        Did it after full time last week too

        1. Free Hat
          • 5 Years
          1 year, 2 months ago

          Didnt notice that!

    2. Zimo
      • 5 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      From the bench?

  27. JBG
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Lol wtf are you doing Gnonto? You Gncont.

  28. threeputt
    • 14 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    just thinking iut loud:
    what would happen if two players score by kicking the ball at the same time, for example one with the left and one with the right, how do the fpl gods work that one out ?

    1. Differentiator
      • 8 Years
      1 year, 2 months ago

      goal fernandes

    2. RICICLE
      • 1 Year
      1 year, 2 months ago

      They’ll make the rules up as they go along still and award both the goal probably

  29. Gizzachance
    • 9 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Not a good start, pereira 1 pt, Tark cs gone, nketiah an mahrez benched!

  30. Ze_Austin
    • 5 Years
    1 year, 2 months ago

    Yup. Ings vs Navas has been something